I’m not going to waste a lot of time talking about the film Land of the Dead as having just watched it again on DVD my opinion of the film has not changed. Although an OK film, it is not a great film, and that is a shame. I find the film just kind of choppy and incomplete. The opening sequence plays like a tour of a Disney zombie attraction to me. The whole zombie gazebo band scene truly does look like something you would see while sitting in a tram ride car at Disney or Universal. The only real saving grace and in my opinion only real reason to sit through this film more than once is the wonderful performance given by Robert Joy. He is a fresh performance surrounded by a bunch of folks who just seem to be going through the motions.

The FX are great, the work by Nicotero and company is top notch from start to finish. This uncut version of the film offers a few extended FX scenes. Nicotero seemed to really love working on this project and it shows in his work. There is a very “over the top” feel to several of the FX gags and they are pulled off with a sickening glee. The film goes to prove that great FX alone does not a film make. I found myself just sitting there waiting for the next gag as I could have cared less about what was happening to the characters. Savini’s cameo, although wonderful in the context that George involved Tom in the project, seems forced and a bit out of place. It kind of has the feeling that it was almost added in as an after thought.

Okay, I said I wasn’t going to babble on about the film so let’s talk about the DVD itself. The film looks great, it sounds great and the special features are plentiful. Any horror fan really needs to pick this title up if for no other reason than to check out the special features on the disc.

Undead Again: Making Land of the Dead is a great look behind the scenes on the set of the film. These making of features are starting to get a little stale though. Back in the day, before DVD, these behind the scenes things had a little more of a feeling of seeing something special, seeing something that not everyone else was going to see. Now, cameras are on set for no other reason than to randomly film for the DVD special features and the spontaneity is gone. Folks mug it up for the camera knowing that millions will see it when the DVD comes out. It’s just not the same as seeing the behind the scenes stuff from earlier films that were shot as home videos or as mementos for cast or crew. This is a very well produced segment though and well worth checking out.

There are several other shorter features that are quite fun to watch. When Shaun met George is a recounting of the meeting of Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright, star and director of Shaun of the Dead, with George and then the filming of their cameos in the film.

Other features included:

A Day with the Living Dead

Bringing the Dead to Life

The Remaining Bits

Scenes of Carnage

Zombie Effects: From Green Screen to Finished Scene

Bringing the Storyboards to Life

Scream Tests: Zombie Casting Call

Like I said a lot of special features.

So, should you run out Tuesday Oct. 18th and pick this baby up? You bet our ass you should. Just take it for what is a great DVD release of an OK film.